A Holmes Beach man was arrested July 3 for driving a lawnmower under the influence of alcohol.
Jack Scott Pritchard, 75, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. in the 200 block of 84th Street by two Holmes Beach police officers.
According to the HBPD report, the officers had finished a previous call in the area and proceeded in their vehicle when they observed a person operating a riding lawnmower without lights on the road and the sidewalk along Gulf Drive.
The report stated an officer driving a patrol vehicle had to brake quickly to avoid hitting Pritchard, who turned onto 85th Street, weaving on and off the roadway.
Upon stopping Pritchard, one of the officers reported he smelled intoxicants on Pritchard’s breath and his speech was slurred.
The officers conducted a field sobriety test, which Pritchard failed. He refused to provide a breath sample.
Pritchard was arrested for DUI and refusal to submit to the DUI test. He was transported to the Manatee County jail and released the next day on a $620 bond.
His arraignment was set for Aug. 4.
HBPD contacted Pritchard’s wife to collect the lawnmower.
— ChrisAnn Allen